FRINGILLA MONTIPRTNGILLA 217 



Chaffinch, and generally four in number, are of a dull pale bluish or 

 greenish colour, sparsely clouded and spotted with vinous and russet 

 markings. They vary a good deal in size and shape, but their average 

 measurements are 21'50 X 15"o0 mm. 



FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA, Linnaeus. 

 BRAMBLING. 



Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 318 (1766) ; Sharpe, Cat. 

 Birch Brit. 2Iiis. xii, p. 178 ; Loche, ExpL Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 142 

 (1867); Kocniij, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 233; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 54. 



Description. — Adult male, autumn, from Italy. 



Upper parts mottled black and buff, the feathers having dark centres, 

 light margins and white bases ; lower back and rump white, mottled with 

 black; tail blackish-brown, the outer feathers with some white at their 

 bases ; quills blackish-brown, margined with whitish ; lesser wing-coverts 

 orange-yellow ; greater wing-coverts blackish, margined with whitish ; 

 throat and breast warm buff; rest of underparts whitish, the flanks spotted 

 with black. 



Iris brown ; bill yellowish, with a dark tip ; feet flesh-colour. 



Total length 6 inches, wing 3-50, culmen -50, tarsus -70. 



Adult female is much duller and browner than the male. 



Observations. — In full breeding plumage the head and upper back of the 

 male are of a rich blue-black colour, and the general coloration is brighter. 



The Brambling occurs in Tunisia as an occasional winter visitor, 

 but it is probably only in exceptionally severe weather that it extends 

 its wanderings as far as the African coast. Blanc informs me that 

 he has met with the species once or twice in autumn near Tunis, 

 and that the bird-catchers of that town sometimes take it in their 

 nets. Judging from what Loche says (Bxpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, 

 p. 143), the species would appear to be a regular winter migrant in 

 Algeria, but possibly a succession of severe winters may have caused 

 these birds to be more frequently observed in that country about the 

 time Loche was there. In any case, I do not think the Brambling can 

 be looked upon otherwise than as an occasional visitor to North-west 

 Africa, although when it occurs there it may be found in considerable 



